2008 Woodie Awards
Men take out Villa Julie
Brian Hungarter
Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: Sports
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By Brian Hungarter
Staff Writer
After a 108-62 victory over Villa Julie in the exhibition opener for the Loyola men's basketball team, the Greyhounds now await the highly anticipated season opener with cross-town rival Towson on Friday at 7 p.m. at Towson. Loyola lost to the Tigers at Reitz Arena last year, 70-62.
"I can't wait for that game," senior Omari Isreal said adamantly. "We have a bad taste in our mouth from last year, and I can't wait to get out there and fight for the win. We know their guys and they know us, so we are calling this one The War in Baltimore, and we want it bad."
But first thing's first: an exhibition game with Villa Julie to open the 2007-08 campaign last Friday night in Reitz Arena. Noted author and sportswriter John Feinstein spoke words of encouragement before the game, but the story of the evening was the balanced offensive attack, featuring 11 different scorers and six players in double figures, led by senior Gerald Brown's 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Also reaching double digits for the Hounds were seniors Omari Isreal and Michael Tuck, juniors Marquis Sullivan and Joe Miles, and freshman Isaac Reid.
Head coach Jimmy Patsos mixed up last year's starting lineup, choosing to open with Miles in favor of Brown and Tuck over fellow senior Hassan Fofana. The new-look Loyola offense, headed up by Miles and sophomore Brett Harvey, shot 68 percent from the field, 63 percent from three and put on an efficiency clinic with a 2.00 assist to turnover ratio.
Miles, who transferred from Marshall last season, recorded a team-high seven assists in addition to his 10 points and dictated the offense with strong penetration.
The Hounds came out firing from the opening tip with extraordinary energy and a stifling 2-1-2 full-court press, which led to three immediate turnovers and six transition points.
"It felt good to come out and try to run up and down the court with our fast break," Sullivan said. "It was nice to get a rhythm and come out strong with my teammates."
Patsos decided to finish the game with a younger squad featuring freshmen Reid and Brian Rudolph, who combined for 21 points in an impressive look at the future of Loyola basketball.
The Hounds display of solid fundamental basketball resulted with 62 points in the paint paired with 35 points off turnovers and 28 assists.
"I was very pleased with tonight's performance," Patsos said. "The 28 assists were great, which meant we were passing the ball a lot and finding open looks. Guys on this team can really shoot, and it's great when we have the confidence in our teammates to pass the ball until we find the open shot and then the ability to knock it down."
Staff Writer
After a 108-62 victory over Villa Julie in the exhibition opener for the Loyola men's basketball team, the Greyhounds now await the highly anticipated season opener with cross-town rival Towson on Friday at 7 p.m. at Towson. Loyola lost to the Tigers at Reitz Arena last year, 70-62.
"I can't wait for that game," senior Omari Isreal said adamantly. "We have a bad taste in our mouth from last year, and I can't wait to get out there and fight for the win. We know their guys and they know us, so we are calling this one The War in Baltimore, and we want it bad."
But first thing's first: an exhibition game with Villa Julie to open the 2007-08 campaign last Friday night in Reitz Arena. Noted author and sportswriter John Feinstein spoke words of encouragement before the game, but the story of the evening was the balanced offensive attack, featuring 11 different scorers and six players in double figures, led by senior Gerald Brown's 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Also reaching double digits for the Hounds were seniors Omari Isreal and Michael Tuck, juniors Marquis Sullivan and Joe Miles, and freshman Isaac Reid.
Head coach Jimmy Patsos mixed up last year's starting lineup, choosing to open with Miles in favor of Brown and Tuck over fellow senior Hassan Fofana. The new-look Loyola offense, headed up by Miles and sophomore Brett Harvey, shot 68 percent from the field, 63 percent from three and put on an efficiency clinic with a 2.00 assist to turnover ratio.
Miles, who transferred from Marshall last season, recorded a team-high seven assists in addition to his 10 points and dictated the offense with strong penetration.
The Hounds came out firing from the opening tip with extraordinary energy and a stifling 2-1-2 full-court press, which led to three immediate turnovers and six transition points.
"It felt good to come out and try to run up and down the court with our fast break," Sullivan said. "It was nice to get a rhythm and come out strong with my teammates."
Patsos decided to finish the game with a younger squad featuring freshmen Reid and Brian Rudolph, who combined for 21 points in an impressive look at the future of Loyola basketball.
The Hounds display of solid fundamental basketball resulted with 62 points in the paint paired with 35 points off turnovers and 28 assists.
"I was very pleased with tonight's performance," Patsos said. "The 28 assists were great, which meant we were passing the ball a lot and finding open looks. Guys on this team can really shoot, and it's great when we have the confidence in our teammates to pass the ball until we find the open shot and then the ability to knock it down."
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